Proverbs 1:20–33

Wisdom’s Plea

²⁰Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares. ^e

²¹She cries out above ^fthe commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

²²“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers ^genjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge? ^h

²³If you respond to my warning, ^ij

then I will pour out my spirit on you ^k

and teach you my words.

²⁴Since I called out and you refused, ^l

extended my hand and no one paid attention, ^m

²⁵since you neglected all my counsel ⁿ

and did not accept my correction,

²⁶I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity. ^o

I will mock when terror strikes you,

²⁷when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

²⁸Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me. ^p

²⁹Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord, ^q

³⁰were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction, ^r

³¹they will eat the fruit of their way ^s

and be glutted with their own schemes. ^t

³²For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them, ^u

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

³³But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be free from the fear of danger.” ^v